Question

Since just weeks after delivery I developed &quot;arthritis&quot; in my hands &amp; shoulders, anyone ever hearb4?

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Has anyone else ever heard of this? My joints are swollen (not particularly my whole hand like the last month) and very stiff and painful to bend (in fact, they do not have full range of movement and do not stretch open as far as before). My shoulder hurts tons during specific movements and aches almost continually. The symptoms are worse in the am and at night (the pain wakes me often). Help!!! Is this normal, will it go away and what can I do to help?

Mom Answers

I developed in my left wrist a searing pain when moving it. Then it started in my right wrist after birth. It hurts worse where the thumb meets the wrist. It makes it impossible to do anything. The pain is even worse at night and it sometimes feels like it pops in and out of joint. The doctor called it dequervanes disease...advanced tendonitis. Rest and splints and time make it better, I am told. For anyone who has a 3 month old that is next to impossibe to not use the wrists.

I had this also. Was embarrassed to complain to my hubby or doc since I had a high risk pregnancy. (I am 43!) One night I was watching our local news and they done a report about pregnant women, delivery and carpal tunnel syndrome. They had done studies and this is apparantly common in women a few weeks before and after childbirth. I am sure that is what I had, they reported that within weeks/months after delivery it usually subsides and mine did! Go to www.wthr.com and look under Health. I hope this helps!

I had developed De Quervain's tendinitis on both my wrists during 3rd trimester of pregnancy. After birth of the baby, I was unable to write, things would slip out of my hands and lifting the baby made the painful condition worse. I could not move my thumb at all. The condition worsened after 3 months of delivery.
From my observation, hormones related to pregnancy and breastfeeding aggravate this condition. My condition automatically improved a little bit when I stopped nursing my baby. Then on conventional medication I was prescribed very high dosage of ibuprofen which I did not take. Instead I saw a chiropractor. With 6 sessions of adjustments (nearly 3 weeks) and continuous cold compress of both wrists and thumbs, the condition got much better. I feel perfectly fine now. I am not sure if chiropractic adjustments were really needed but I am sure that cold compress works wonders for tendinitis of wrist and thumb. I hope this information will be useful to many new moms on baby center

The joints in my fingers were swollen for about two months after the birth of my baby. I could barely bend them when I would wake up for feedings. Running them under hot water helped. Now that my baby is three months my symptoms are much improved. I also developed tendonitis in my wrist, which is still very painful. The specialist I saw said that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are prone to inflammation and that these symptoms are very common, especially with added stress of lifting the baby. He believes the tendinitis will go away once I stop breastfeeding.

NUTRITION!! I have had a few aches and pains since my baby was born, but especially if I miss a day of supplements, especially calcium. We're making milk and if we don't have enough vitamins and minerals in our food, we risk our bodies getting strip-mined for what the baby needs.
We're supposed to keep taking the pre-natal supplements. Why they don't make nursing supplements. I have no idea. A first trimester pregnant woman and a nursing mother can't possible have the same nutritional needs. That's why I try to listen to my body and when I'm achy, I up my calcium intake. When I'm tired, I increase my iron. If I'm moody or hormonal, I take more fish oil.
Right after delivery, I had the most horrible shooting pain in my neck and shoulders. I thought it was from watching my daughter breastfeed, but I later realized that I was off my supplements for a few days. Within hours to taking my vitamins, the pain subsided! This week I ran out of calcium for 3 days & I had arthritic hip pain!

I developed the same thing in my 6th month of pregnancy and it gradually worsened to the point of total numbness in my right hand and 75% numbness in my left. Unfortunately, I am right handed which made it difficult to change my newborn's diapers, clothes, bathing--I fumbled through and my daughter is patien. My husband and family were aware because it was obvious- I am sketch artist and oil painter so my fine motor skills are well tuned. My family was very supportive---I suggest you tell your significant other and be specific the with the help you may need. I was told by my doctors that it would disipate by my 6 week visit. This did not happen for me- My daughter is 3 months old and I now have 95% of the feeling back in my right hand and all in my left.-the pain in my shoulder has subsided. It does go away---I found that exercsing my hand with a ball or balled up sock helped with the everyday tasks. Just know that it may take longer than they suggest to get better. Hang in there

My dd is now 8mos old and I have had odd pains thruout my body. It started with wrist & ankle pain. Upon standing, my ankles won't bend right and I hobble until the joints loosen up. I started noticing other pains that came and went, mysteriously. Some days, pain in my hips. Other days, it runs down my legs and arms (like restless leg syndrome). It feels like muscle aches and pain in the joints combined. We've been mostly sleepless here since dd arrived home. I've noticed that when I get more sleep, I tend to have less pains. I'm hoping that when she starts sleeping regularly my pain will go away. I think there is a connection between sleep and how the body deals with pain.

I am having my lower limb joints pain since my baby birth. It ia happening from last 4 months. Still I have the pain in my Hip & Knee joints. If I band my leg & sit down I cann't get up without support such as holding wall, furniture or push presure on floor. Because of my job I am unable to consult with doctor. Can anybody help me about this problem?

My doctor told me it was normal to have pain in between your shoulder blades after the baby because I'd be holding the baby so often. If this is all it is then you should be fine once your muscles get used to it.

During my 9th month is when I developed tendonitis in my wrist it hurt like you know what. I could not lift and twist my wrist they would even get stuck in a position and I would agonize moving them back to their normal position. my baby is 3 1/2 months not and it has gotten better. The doctor told me not to worry as long as the symptoms continue to get better. I would check with a physican about it. Every week I notice I continue to improve with small reminders of the pain I had.

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